I wonder how long it took society to degenerate into the mess that Noah had to live in. Was it a slow progressive slide for the 10 generations before him or was there a sudden change? I tend to think there was a slow start to it but progressed exponentially. We see this pattern in nature especially with the climate change we have been going through. This seems to have also been the case with the climate of men's hearts as well. When my grandfather was alive, he respected his parents, he went to church every Sunday, his school upheld the values of his home, he stayed at home until marrying and stayed married to his wife until death separated them.
My father respected his parents, went to church every Sunday, his school upheld the values of his home, he stayed at home until joining the army, then got married and stayed married to his wife until death separated them.
I could probably go back a hundred generations and repeat that same description with only minor alterations. Please don't write and explain to me that there were no elementary schools in Medieval times... I got that... just stay with me here :)
Sure there were some societal changes during those 30 years. Two world wars, The Great Depression, the beginning of the entertainment culture, the popularity of psychology and "new" thought. These were (in part) the source of the undercurrent that would create change that would not come to full fruition for another 75 years.
Fast forward two generations and to the exponential change we are now seeing.
A child now is trained to disrespect his parent (notice the singular) by school, government and media, (which is his new god). He goes to soccer on Sundays, will eventually move in with his girlfriend, only to have a child then leave for another woman (or man) within a few years.
We aren't in the same world most of us grew up in. Everything has changed. The world seems to be racing towards disaster. Evil and violence has filled the hearts of men and it is only going to be a short while before the day of the Lord comes. Are we ready for the flood? Can we continue to do what we have been called to do even though we are surrounded by continual and increasing evil?
I pray so.
Blessings.
